The Nepal premiere of the feature film Panchayat, which brings to screen a story from Nepal’s autocratic Panchayat era, took place on Friday, at Kumari Hall in the Capital. The premiere show saw the attendance of a number of Nepali politicians in the likes of Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Jhalanath Khanal, Janardan Sharma, Barshaman Pun, Yogesh Bhattarai, Minendra Rijal and Matrika Yadav, among others. 

Panchayat is based in the year 1974 CE, two years after King Birendra ascended the throne, and features real-life footages from the era. Panchayat was shot in Baglung and surrounding districts. 

Speaking to the press after the show, Maoist (Centre) leader Dahal said that the film has successfully portrayed the socio-cultural environment of the Panchayat era. 

While Jhalanath Khanal said that the film is “real, enjoyable and touching.”

“The film is a reflection of the society of the era, and has also brought to the fore the social ills of the time,” Khanal added. 

Panchayat is written and directed by Shivam Adhikari and features actors Ganesh Giri, Janwi Basnet, Suchitra Uprety, and Pakriti Dhungel, alongside Khanal, Dhungana and Rana. Panchayat is produced jointly by Shushant Shrestha and Shankar Subedi. 

The film will release nationwide on March 16.